This article is about the scro founder and deity named Dukagsh; for the planet of the same name see here.
Almighty Dukagsh, the Scro Father,[2] was the first Almighty Leader and founder of the Scro race,[3][4] and is revered as a deity by his people.[1]
"My people are impatient - I shall teach them patience. My people are cowards - I shall teach them courage.
My people think only of today - I shall teach them to think of tomorrow. My people lust for elven blood - this requires no teaching."
- Early Sayings of Dukagsh[5]
Overview[]
"By the Tomb of Dukagsh!"
- Common scro interjection.[6]
At the end of the first Unhuman War, a powerful orc warchief by the name of Dukagsh led a small ragtag fleet of orcish survivors to a remote but habitable planet, where they settled down. A visionary by orcish standards, Dukagsh recognized that the orcs has lost the Unhuman War because of their outmoded tactics, one-dimensional strategies and reliance on brutality for its own sake. Instead, he realized that the orcs would have to adapt and become more organized, and that each soldier must be made to realize their full potential. Appointing himself the first Almighty Leader, Dukagsh whipped his people into shape in the ensuing years, making sure they learned everything they could about warfare, survival, and even culture. To make sure no one forgot who was to blame for their misfortune, each orc had to learn fluent elvish.
Over time, the orcs salvaged equipment from drifting debris and the wrecks of human, elven, dwarven, and goblinoid ships. Occasionally they even found books and other materials, and Dukagsh made his people read them. Before he died, Dukagsh declared that his people were on the path to success. The old ways were dead, he claimed, and a new race was born, a race that was more than any orc could ever be. He named them the Scro.
At his death, his grateful followers named their homeworld in his honor, and Dukagsh's tomb now floats over the planet's northern pole, so that he may look down on upon his people and watch their progress.[3]
Holy symbol[]
"Eyes of Dukagsh"
- Common scro interjection.[7]
Dukagsh's symbol is a pair of eyes.[1]
Worship[]
The scro worship a god of war and vengeance. Upon entering a scro temple, the worshippers may pass through what is known as the Oratorium of Oaths, where a scro supplicant bent on vengeance would renew their oath. If they have no other oaths to swear, the worshippers renews what is known as Dukagsh's Oath, reaffirming their dedication to wiping out the elven race.
Next a worshipper will enter the Ranks of Vengeance, a chamber whose walls are covered in murals depicting famous tales of vengeance and vindication. Within the room are seven podiums spaced evenly throughout. On each podium is a book detailing one of the seven vengeances, each requiring a deeper commitment and a greater level of risk to the oathtaker. The seventh station recounts the tale of Dukagsh, and how he molded the entire scro race to ultimately achieve his vengeance upon the elves. It serves as the supreme example of commitment and dedication to vengeance.
The third and final room is known as the Dream of Dukagsh, and within are murals and carvings depicting in detail the Scro Father's dream of vengeance upon the elves. On a small alter is kept a copy of a book detailing the biography of the life and times of Dukagsh.[8]
The scro aren't interested in conquering the Known Spheres; instead their sole objective appears to be nothing short of annihilating the elves and driving all other groundling humanoid races out of wildspace for good. The scro war-priests see this, not planetary conquest, as their holy mission. As for those races native to wildspace… well, the scro will need slave labor, and those races will do quite nicely. The scro are merely waiting for the right moment to strike.[3][9]
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Scro article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
- Scro article at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from 2nd edition AD&D.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Roger E. Moore, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Maelstrom's Eye, 1992, (TSR Inc.), page 156
- ↑ Roger E. Moore, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Maelstrom's Eye, 1992, (TSR Inc.), page 19
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 John Terra, MC9 Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Scro entry
- ↑ Bruce Nesmith, SJS1 Goblins' Return, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Scro entry, pages 61-62
- ↑ Bruce Nesmith, SJS1 Goblins' Return, 1991, (TSR Inc.), sidebar, page 4
- ↑ Roger E. Moore, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Maelstrom's Eye, 1992, (TSR Inc.), page 17
- ↑ Roger E. Moore, The Cloakmaster Cycle, The Maelstrom's Eye, 1992, (TSR Inc.), page 24
- ↑ Bruce Nesmith, SJS1 Goblins' Return, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Witchlight Temple section, chapter 3: Gamaro Base Description, pages 40-43
- ↑ Curtis M. Scott, CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Scro section, chapter 2: New Spacefaring Races, pages 23-24